Sexual violence in Sudan: RSF accused of using rape as weapon of war

Key Concepts

• Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group in Sudan currently engaged in conflict with the Sudanese army.
• Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War: The deliberate use of rape and other sexual assault as a tactic to intimidate, terrorize, and subjugate populations during armed conflict.
• Displacement & Trauma: The compounded suffering experienced by individuals forced to flee their homes, particularly those who have also experienced sexual violence.
• Lack of Support for Survivors: The critical shortage of medical, psychological, and economic assistance available to survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones.

The Situation in Sudan: Sexual Violence and Displacement

The report details the harrowing experiences of women and girls in Sudan, specifically focusing on the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their takeover of areas like Zum and Al Faser. Rayan’s story exemplifies the brutal reality faced by civilians. Fleeing the siege imposed by the RSF on Zum camp, Rayan and her family were intercepted. She was separated from her family and subjected to rape by RSF fighters, resulting in an eight-month-old son conceived through this violence. She recounts, “They took my brother and tied him to their motorbikes and started dragging him away. I told them to leave him and they said they'll take me instead. My family couldn't do anything. They took me to some tents and two of them raped me. I was able to escape when they heard the sound of the army airplanes and ran away.” This account highlights the deliberate targeting of women and the use of sexual violence as a tool of control and terror. Rayan now faces the additional hardship of being unable to obtain a birth certificate for her son due to the unknown paternity and lack of resources.

Al Faser: A "Crime Scene" and the Scale of Abuse

The RSF’s control of Al Faser, achieved last October, was marked by widespread violence, with reports indicating the killing of thousands. The UN Human Rights Office confirms that sexual violence and rape were systematically employed as weapons of war during the takeover. The report emphasizes that the documented cases – “dozens of cases of rape and other sexual crimes” reported by women and girls escaping Al Faser – likely represent a significant undercount of the true extent of the abuse. The UN described Al Faser as “one big crime scene,” underscoring the severity of the situation.

The Aftermath: Trauma and Lack of Support

Survivors who manage to escape to camps face a double burden of trauma – the initial violence and the subsequent displacement. Sophia Abdul Bagi, a survivor who witnessed RSF atrocities in Al Faser, now runs a bakery project for other survivors. She describes witnessing the RSF abducting a girl and returning her hours later, visibly abused: “When we were leaving Al Faser, we saw the RSF taking a girl and returning her hours later. She was bloodied and only cried and said they raped her.” However, Bagi stresses the critical lack of support available to these survivors. She states, “But here there is no medical assistance given to survivors. No aid. We tried to give them programs to support themselves for them to heal from what they went through. But they still need proper assistance.” This lack of assistance extends to both medical care and psychological support, hindering the healing process.

Justice and Healing: A Distant Prospect

The report concludes with a sense of despair among survivors, who fear that perpetrators will not be held accountable and that true healing may be impossible. The pervasive fear of impunity and the absence of adequate support systems create a bleak outlook for those who have endured such horrific experiences. Hiba Morgan, reporting from Alazer Alaf camp in the northern state, conveys this sentiment.

This report highlights the urgent need for increased international attention, humanitarian aid, and accountability mechanisms to address the ongoing crisis in Sudan and provide support to the survivors of sexual violence.